nyone knows what are those numerous white ropes for, hanging at an angle?

The Lilliputians trying to topple the hive and get some honey? OK, stupid humor, but to me this image needs more terrorism Seriously, would a little more snap hurt? Curious to hear your reply either way you'd come down on it. And I realize it's always a question of degree. What do you think?

Anyone knows what are those numerous white ropes for, hanging at an angle?

Those are escape lines. Next time an airliner heads for your tower, thanks to Snowden and Manning, you grab one of those lines and slide down to the street. Be sure you have your work gloves on, though.

I guess what I am trying to do is to reduce and simplify the outside world, be it natural or manmade, to its essential elements of color, shape and form, light and shadow. See them, recognize them and enhance them.

For instance, I see this incredible variety of shapes, forms and colors all within the same block in NY:

The white ropes mystery solved: window washers indeed. I was skeptical at first, as the building does not have that many windows requiring outside washing, plus the angle of the ropes was strange (i.e., moving away from the building the closer it gets to the ground). Then, yesterday, while walking around Chicago, I saw the same thing. This time I was able to get to the building and see the washer platform parked on the ground, about 100 feet from the building - that explains the ropes' angle).